The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

<- I » .... * „ .-£rw« ' /.V - • 1- »« . . ,. . •«. k "4 •¥••'. '."VA * "(W 5 '""r« ? • * •,'% Ml now. As pad** ^MTjaifelMBt hjr 4«<to*Wl«M *!««• *M ltd tall yoe bowjroa often MM A ifty*4toHM-saddle on * twenty-dollar boas. An', vukta' ia do tow-groun's, yon dlsklver M ftm *ro». I ehtokaMBiuw got * mighty »l«nd«r chime* fot Dat hoklson fri bio piety but one day out ob ashen,- Dat «•**• abosi d® sinners wid a heap o' so feme cha*. Ut mS** drepaattleM In «• ̂ <*«r£_h*ti Det's foremost in da meetta'-honse for nUai alia* »*t b^^Oe Ma Vglwwld hie Sunday panta. lumber Jud*s o' people dat I mate ikM* way 4a p!ac<w wbar dey oome fum an' da ht>uaea whai Far feSnUm Wotaal Mfnl fcad«' (04MB* "Wu Am' iu turkey-busBard sails above da eagle ta it sky J D«r ketche* little minners In de middle ob de sea, A*? ytiu flndp. de smalles' possum' up da blfgea' kiM 'jms 1 ' tree! TRAPS FOB THE UNWARY, The swindler is a person who invaria­ bly flourishes in all great cities, and who includes ainoflg his victims the rich and the poor alike. He fleeces the million- aim merchant and the poor emigrant who seeks this land to better his fort­ unes. For many years ht prospered in 4hiti city, wad it was almost impossible to bring him to justice. In nearly ev«ry oaae he would escape the mealies of the law either through political influence or the power of money. Of late, however, he has been hunted down, and veiv sel­ dom do we hear of daring swindlers es­ caping with their booty. In order that the innocent may be upon their guard, a few of the traps laid for the unwary in thin great city are exposed further on, and a few instances of daring swindling an recalled to the mind of the reader. Or May 2, 1866, a man by the name of John Boss, who bad been engaged in business as a broker in Wall street for about six or eight months, succeeded in obtaining $600,000 from various bankers and brokers in the city on forged gold certificates apparently signed by the Continental Bank. Boss gathered in the whole sum in two hours and de­ camped with his booty. He was never arrested, although detectives were im­ mediately put upon his track. It was alleged at the time that the banking firm to which Boss piesented the gold certificates at once forwarded them to the Continental Bank to see if they were genuine,and that the messenger returned and stated that the cashier, after closely scrutinizing them, had pronounced them U> be good. This statement was subse­ quently denied by the cashier, but at any rate the banking firm sent the certificates the same day to the Com­ monwealth Bank, and they were passed by the Clearing House iu the usual manner and the money paid to the Com­ monwealth Bank. The Continental as­ serted subsequently that the certificates were forgeries, and commenced an action for the recovery of the money. In this connection it may be stated thai, the signature of the bank teller of the Con­ tinental Bank, appended to the certifi­ cates, was executed with remarkable skill, and the most experienced experts in the city at the time failed to discover any difference between the genuine sig­ nature and those alleged to have been iuged. A novel case of swindling was discov­ ered in 1867, when a man named William Martin was arrested for defraud­ ing nearly 2,000 merchants of this city out of various sums of money during the space of nine years. It appears that Martin, in 1858, commenced calling on the merchants with a paper purporting to be a subscription list for the avowed purpose of raising a fund for sick and destitute members of the Insurance Pa­ tted, at the same time representing that- he was authorized to receive subscrip­ tions for such fund, and that he was a member of the Insurance Patrol himm»lf, Beside the merchants, every hotel, banking-house, shipping office, etc., had been visited at least once or twice a year by Martin and solicited to aid the sick and indigent members of the patrol. When arrested there was found on the •windier a subscription list containing the names of at least 2,000 merchants and other businessmen of this city, with the sums subscribed by each, aggregat­ ing fully $10,000. In the year 1868 many of the large mercantile houses of tin* city, whose customers resided in the distant sections of the Union, particularly in the South, West and Southwest, were sorely per­ plexed at being regularly apprised that cases of goods received by tlieir purchas­ ers did not at all agree with the invoices' accompanying them, and that in many uut&&C6B merchandise of sq inferior quality had been substituted for the ar­ ticles bought. At first it was s uspected that the steamship and railway compa­ nies were guilty of the wrong-doing, but as the complaints did not seem to di­ minish the matter was put in the hands of the police, who succeeded in placing the blame uponr the shoulders of the cartmen who had been intrusted with ISte shipping of the goods. The latter, it was discovered, after receiving the caseq for shipment in good order, In­ stead of proceeding to the vessel or freight depot, where they could ship mem, were accustomed to drive to cer- jjMn "fences " and there open a case or two, extract certain valuable pieces and substitute for them goods of an inferior heavy purchases, his store was visited and found almost empty, and L&grave, having been received coolly tbe next day by his dupes, saw he was discovered, and mil to Canada. Among the swindles that hnve been very successful may be mentioned the bogus counterfeit-money manufacturing shops. The principal victims of the swindlers are oountry people, to whom communications are sent by bogus firms in this city offering to make them rich in a very short lime. The swindler generally begins by stating that he has on hand, ready for circulation, a large sum in one, two and five-dollar bills, which he claims are the best counter­ feits ever put upon the market, and which he defies even treasury experts to detect. He claims that they are of the same size of the genuine, are printed on first-class paper, are correctly num­ bered and are so exceedingly well exe­ cuted in every respect that they can not possibly be detected, even by the aid of a powerful microscope. He then offers to sell any amount of the bills for one- fifth the par value of the genuine. This often takes the eye of country people, who, in their anxiety to get suddenly rich, pay a visit to the office of the bogus firm in this city. The latter generallyf'onsists of three persons, one of v hom meets the victim in the hall-and offers to go into the office and let the firm know of his presence. The victim is left for a few minutes alone when another person comes out and inquires how much the gentleman wishes, and tells him that it would nfever do to let him go into the office, as they occupy it iu common with a man who is vary suspicious, but he will bring him out any amount he wishes un­ observed. This is satisfactory, and the scoundrel goes into the office and gets a package 'of paper about the size that greenbacks would make of the amount ordered, The package is Gecurely done up and sealed with the firm's name, and this is quickly exchanged for genuine bills, the victim being cautioned at the same time not to open the package until he reaches home for fear of detection. As a rule the 'purchaser obeys the in­ structions to the letter, and is thunder­ struck when he proceeds to display his wealth to admiring friends. It is of very little use to try and recover their money, as the " bogus firm" is inacces­ sible except to fresh victims. The " sawdust game" is also used in this bo­ gus-counterfeiting scheme. Shop-heepers have time and again been made the victims of swindlers, es­ pecially females. Among the many de­ vices to carry out their purpose was the following: They always worked in couples and were generally assisted by a man. The latter would select a house that advertised furnished rooms, and, going to the place in the course of the day, he would hire rooms for two ladies and then inform them of the locality of their new residence. Then the parties would take a stroll through the principal thoroughfares and select a store to fur­ nish the material. As soon as every­ thing was ready one or both ladies would enter the Btore and purchase a quantity of goods, invariably laces or such light valuable materials as could easily be disposed of, and give direc­ tions to the person from whom the pur­ chase was made to Bend them tc the house, giving the address. When the employe of the store arrived at the house with the articles one of the ladies would politely receive him in the parlor, ask him to wait a moment while she was showing the merchandise to her sister and husband, and then, taking the goods, the swindlers would disappear from the house with the booty, leaving the messenger waiting patiently for his cash. The next swindle to be mentioned is the " bogus express company." The pretended managers of the concern would commence by forwarding to mer­ chants of this city notes purporting to come from different parts of the country, asking for all kinds of goods to be sent immediately C. O. D. through the bogus express. Of course that would be the last of the merchandise, as the swindlers would sell it and pocket the proceeds. The prize-candy swindle is well-known to every New Yorker, and nowadays very few people fall victims to this class of swindles. It is not, however, so many years ago that people of all classes, from the merchant to the street Arab, went craay over it. fortunately, the craze was not in this city, but broke out in Boston, where a wily old man named Flint Peaslee succeeded for quite a while in fleecing the citizens of the " Hub." His manner of operating was to sell pipe-stem candy for 5 cents a stick. Each stick was done up in paper, and inside some of them were cheeks entitling the fortunate buyer to whatever prize was named therein. These prizes ranged from 10 cents to $10, and occasionally consisted of a barrel of flour or ton of coal. Of course a large pro­ portion of the sticks contained no checks whatever, and these were recognized as blanks. Every class of the community was represented among the dupes, and even well-dressed and refined women mingled in the line, anxious to try their luck. This thing continued for months, and some days as many as 50,000 sticks were disposed of. The entire resources of the largest confectioner in Boston were inadequate, and a small army of girls were hardly able to wrap the sticks in papers fast enough to supply the vic­ timized buyers. The game was finally broken up by a young girl in Peasleea employ, who managed to so place the sticks containing , prizes that her friends were able to draw them all in the early quality, furnished by the keeper of the ! U°thtS Jmfc"Wank8 for jt . P . . the other customers. Peaslee was finnllv 'Ifence." The first cartman arrested confessed that he alone had stolen in this manner $10,000 worth of goods in twelve months, and it was a matter of customers. Peaslee was finally driven from the city. The " excursion swindlers" are anoth­ er class that were very prevalent a few impossibility to place any figure ou the ; They ^ou!d °Veu ^ office amount of the thefts. , ? °?e oI ,the P^cipal streets, fit it up Eugene Lagrave is a name very famfl- ban«8°mely, and when the would-be ex- i*r I© iB&ityof our drv goods merchants. ] ®™8iom8t called he would be received whom he swindled out of $600,000. This 1? most courteous manner, and on sharper commenced life as a brash- ? payise»t of a stipulated sum would be presented with a card purporting to give him passege up the sound or else­ where on the water. The date of the excursion was printed on the ticket, but no particular steamer or starting-place was mentioned on the face; but this was a matter of small consequence, as the gentlemanly projector of the excur­ sion informed the purchasers of tickets that a certain vessel would leave a cer­ tain pier at a certain time. In manv instances several hundred peoples as­ sembled on the pier indicated, and after waiting for hours for the steamer made np their minds that they had been victimized. ker, and, after making $80,000 in his business, went into Wall street and lost it all. He was next heard from as a loaner of money on diamonds, watches, etc., loom which he was forced to retire by the police. Afterward he came before the public as the possessor of forged bonds, ana subsequently of stolen securities. He managed, however, to escape pun­ ishment in all these cases. We then And him on Broadway as a merchant. He hired a large Etore and fitted it up in a gorgeous manner. He then went to Stewart's, bought a bill of goods, rep- fesentmg himselt as a newly-established merchant who had a large Western trade and who would buy quantities of goods Another well-worn trap, but which IT eludes victims »up to this very day, is For these he paid cash. His adclrens months. He went to all the big dry goods houses and obtained credit in the rutin* manner, giving his note nt six months in each case. The goods ob­ tained were immediately sent out West qpd auctioneered off! He did this every week, until in five months he had run an account of from $500,000 to $600,- was excited by his his charitable loan leaves his house or office. In other cases the bogw bereaved persons beg for enough to bnry the corpse from door to door, and generally tell of a sick mother, crippled sister, etc., to excite the sympathies of the householder The poor emigrant w not forgotten by the swindler. Every device is tried to fleece him out of the few dollars he has brought with him to his new home. In some cases they are coaxed to give up small sums of money on the pretense of procuring employment. The sharpers get their money and then send them to some factory in the suburbs, where the emigrants are told positions are open for them. On application at the place mentioned, the parties in charge say thHt they do not need any hands, and the emigrants have to return to Castle Garden minus their traveling expenses. Emigrants intending to go inland are also imposed upon by these sharks, who Cthem rolls of copper coin in ex-ge for our paper money or the gold coin of .European countries'. They dupe their victims by a gold piece put o* top of each roll, which generally contains Erglish coppers. The " bogus Custom House officer" is another swindle which is carried on to a great extent. It consists in the as­ sumption of the duties and rights of Custom House officers by a number of rascals, who, to work their ends more easily, wear bogus badges, precise imi­ tations of those worn by the regular in­ spectors, They follow an unsuspecting passenger who may be leaving the ship with some small package which has es­ caped the attention of the regular Cus­ tom House officer, and when he is clear of the dock the swindler approaches him and demands to know what lie has got. If objection is made he shows his badge. This scares the would-be smuggler; the goods are delivered up and that is the last heard of them. The passenger claims them at the Custom House, bat to no purpose. 1 Among the many mean swindlers are parties who offer employment to poor men in other cities,- especially in the Stouth, at good wages, on condition that tney pay down a small sum of money. In all cases when the time for departure comes the swindler has vanished, and some idea of the sufferings entailed upon the victims may be formed from the fact that many of them had broken up their humble homes and laid oat their little means in purchasing neces­ saries for the voydge. The bogus-insurance swindler is a very captivating gentleman, who carries about with him blank insurance policies prepared with the name of some ficti­ tious insurance company, and who calls on householders and proprietors Of stores offering to insure them on a small premium. The " check raiser" ia well known, and his business is very extensive. He manages to sell a small amount of goods to a merchant, getting the latter's check in return. Immediately the dollars are raised from hundreds to thousands, and the swindler collects his money, in many instances without trouble. Another game is for the sharper to visit merchants' stores* represent him­ self as a merchant from anothei city, or­ der a large amount of goods and then have a check for $100 or so cashed by the smiling victim. Many other swindles could be men­ tioned, among them the " mock auc­ tion," " bogus mine," etc., but of late the authorities have taken the matter iu hand, and the work ia attended with great risk, so much so, indeed, that ia almost every case of the kind the swin­ dler is brought to justice.--New York Herald. men will manage to •pired ^hen he jp&r j obtain an introduction to their intended v ys,af,ter,^e 1 victims, and after having made a good oould get all the goods he wanted at six i impression will d Bappear for a few days. When they return it will be with the in­ formation that a brotb -r, sis'er or other relative has died suddenly in some re­ mote place, and, it being after banking hours, would the victim loan sufficient money until the next day so that the body could be brought on to this city ? On many occasions the money is aid- 1 vanced. and the victim sees the last of FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS* ELEPHANTS have been known to live 400 years, and it is supposed whales may live 1,000 years. THE elephant has been known to die for grief when, in a sudden fit of mad­ ness, he has killed his keeper. A SNAIL'S head may be cut off, and in a certain time another head mil be formed. At least, so says Spallanzani. PBOF. UNTHANK, of Tucson, is alleged to have iu his possession a brick taken from the great wall of China. The treasure is 4x12x16 inches, is composed erf gray clay, and is as hard as granite. There are said to be several similar bricks yet remaining in the wall for any hardy antiquarian who can obtain them, but as there is a rigorous Chinese law against the demolition of the ancient barrier the only way tosmugglea brick out of the country is to bring it fn one's hat. IT is a curious fact that most of the eminent men who flourished in the Revolution had an especial penchant for widows. Washington married a widow. Aaron Burr's wife was the widow of Col. Provost of the British army. John Hancock had an especial taste for widows, Mr. Madison took a widow, and so did Stephen Hopkins. So did Am­ brose Gwinett, so did Patrick Henry, and so did at least one-fourth of all the patriots and heroes of the days that tried men's souls as well as their pockets. THE Hindoo thief's manner of scaling walls is very ingenious. It is by means of a huge lizard which he carries with him iu his nocturnal rambles. The pro­ cess is as follows : The lizard, "which is, perhaps, a yard in length, with great claws and flattened feet and suction powers like those of a fly, is made fast to the dacoit by a tough cord tied to its tail. When the dacoit is pursued and comes in hi3 hasty flight to a wall, he quickly throws his lizard over it, hold­ ing fast to the other end of the cord. By means of its suction power the lizard fastens himself in the wall on the oppo­ site side, and the thief draws himself to the top and jumps lightly down. By choking the li^axU he is i^ade to release his hold. AT the City of Medina, in Italy, and about four miles around it, wherever the earth is dug, when the workmen ar­ rive at a distance of sixty-three feet they come to a bed of chalk, which they bore with an auger, five feet deep. They then withdraw from the pit before the auger is removed, and upon its extrac­ tion the water bursts through the aper­ ture with great violence, and quickly fills the newly-made well, which contin­ ues full and is affected neither by rains nor drought. But what is the most re­ markable in the operation is the layer of earth as we descend. At the depth of fourteen feet are found the ruins of an ancient city, paved streets, houses, floors and different pieces of mason work. Under this is found a soft, oozy earth, made up of vegetables, and at twenty- six feet large trees, with the walnuts still sticking to the stem, and the leaves and branches in a perfect state of preser­ vation. At twenty-eight feet deep a soft chalk is found, mixed with a vast quan­ tity of shells, and the bed is two feet thick. Under this vegetables are found MISSISSIPPI writes fewer letters to the inhabitant and fewer in gross than any State in the Union. Colorado stands at the liead in the number per citizen. Mississippi's average is six ; Colorado's flfty-five for the entire population. ^ fSp- v;*<"*• riUHom < - IMRO« Firfxncs.--^E cultural editor of Farmer* Union and Weekly 7VI6HM laarned by experi­ ence a few years sinoe, that it would not answer to keep sheep in large flocks. Out of a flook of a little less than 1,100 head, that he was interested in he lost in one winter 548 head, while his loss when his flock was from 800 to 500 head did not average 2 per cent, per year. When sheep run in large flocks, every sheep must travel over more ground to obtain his food, than where small flocks are kept in pastures, and as that ground U usually traveled over daily, the less the numbers are the better it will be lor the sheep, even if the pastures are ever so good. Were we to embark a^ain in wool-growing, we would not, from our previous experi­ ence, keep over two hundred head in a flock. That is to say, if we had a thousand head, we should keep them in five separate flocks. HINTS ON MIIAINO Cowa--A man who had done his own milking employed a bov to do it; he shrank the milk one- third in two weeks. The owner resumed the milking and in two weeks got the same as before. Afterward he set a hired man to nulk, and he shrunk the milk ten per cent, in two weeks; and in two weeks more, the owner milking again, got as much as before. This man does the work quickly and milks very clean. He closes the fore finger and thumb around the teat high up, and makes a downward motion, tightening the grip and forcing out the milk ; then lets go his hold, keeping the thumb and finger iu circle, carries up the hand and presses it smartly against the udder, and closes and pulls down as before, and so repeats until done. The philosophy, if any, is to give as near as may be the same motion that the calf does in suck­ ing. Many a good cow is partially de­ spoiled of her good qualities in conse­ quence of being improperly milked. FARMERS, KEEP ACCOUNTS.--Farmers are prone to neglect this important mat­ ter, and by such negligence are liable to a great many disappointments, in the shape of store and other bills, which when presented are a surprise to them, and has a tendency to create a suspicion on their part that the merchants are not honest, while on the other hand their families are berated for extravagance. Receipts and expenditures are never noted; the profits and losses in any branch of farming are unknown ; uncon­ sciously debtB muntiply; for it requires much less time and ability to dispose of money than to acquire it. Accounts properly kept would admonish them when they conld afford to spend and when to check up. Carelessness in one particular is apt to foster and beget oarelessness in others. The fact is, every farmer should have his journal and ledger, and keep his accounts as promptly and correctly as the merchant. EXTRA FOOD FOB Hoas.--Coal ashes and clay are beneficial for hogs when shut up to fatten. Hogs are fond of cinders, coal ashes and clay, and improve in condition in eating a certain portion of them every day. Some persons are unable to account for this singular pro­ pensity in swine. Poultry are very fond of egg shells, limp, sand, and it is well known these substances are necessary in order to form the shells of eggs, and to furnish material for bones for fowls. Now, it is reasonable to suppose that Bwine eat ashes for the purpose of sup­ plying the material for their bones, and this singular instinct in animals so low in the scale of intelligence is truly won­ derful, for ashes Contain ingredients which are necessary to form bones; clay, eilicia, coal, soft lime, stone and rotten wood with their food, whioh contain the neoessary ingredients; but when they are penned up they endeavor to supply the material necessary for keeping up their frames by devouring asheB and cin­ ders. Let them have plenty of them. MEAT FROM DOMESTIC ANIMALS.-- The amount of meat obtained from a domestic ahimal sold by its live weight is variable, and from experiments made it appears that the race and condition of the animal, besides many other circum­ stances, affect the result, and that cer­ tain animals yield as" much as 70 per cent, of meat, while others give 50 per cent. The mean weight produced, how­ ever, is calculated at 58 per cent, of the live weight in beef cattle. In the case Of sheep the proportion is from 40 to 50 per cent. From these experiments it appears that the different products ob­ tained from oxen and sheep are as fol­ lows : An ox of the live weight of 1,332 pounds yields meat, 771.4 pounds; skin, 110.2; grease, 87 ; blood, 55.1; feat and hoofs, 22; head, 11; tongue, 6.6; lungs and heart, 15.33; liver and spleen, 20.05 ; intestines, 66.15; loss and evaporation, 154.352, making the total 1,332 pounds. The product from a sheep weighing 110.2 pounds are : Meat, 55.11 pounds; skin, 7.713; grease, 5.51 ; blood, 4.408; feet and hoofs, 2.204; head, 4.408 ; in­ testines, 6.613; loss and evaporation, 19.836, making the total of 110.2 pounds. SAVE THE SORGHUM SEED.--A few years ago the value of sorghum seed was not generally known nor appreciated. Farmers, when harvesting the sorghum, would leave the seed lying on the ground ; if the chickens or hogs ate it, all right, or if nothing got it it was all right. In agricultural papers of to-day, sorghum seeid is highly recommended as food for horses, hogs, chickens, etc. This is a step in the right direction. Griddle cakes made of sorghum flour are similar in taste and appearance to buckwheat cakes, and of a milder and better flavor. A person might easily be deceived, thinking he was eating buck­ wheat cakes, when in reality they were made of sorghum flour. Some of the " su­ perior brands of buckwheat flour" we frequently see advertised, are made froin sorghum seed. One way of curing the seed is, take it when the sorghum is har­ vested and scatter it on the grass where it can not be disturbed, leave it there a couple of weeks or so. A few showers or frosts will not hurt it, but if it is scattered too thick, it should be turned occasionally to prevent molding. When it is thoroughly dry haul it onto the barn floor, and when it has cured enough, thrash the seed out and run it through the windmill. It is then ready to be ground to flour. Cook it the same as Buckwheat flour. A crop of sorghum will yield from twenty to forty bushels of seed to the acre. GRASS AND k POUND OF MEAT.--It is stated on good authority that ail acre of the best Lincolnshire grazing land--and it is a country famous for its gratis--will carry an ox and a sheep " from New Mayday till Old Michaelmas," and that while grazing during this period the former will gain 280 pounds and the lat­ ter 40 pounds in net weight of meat when slaughtered. The acre will thus yield 320 pounds of meat. Its produce of grass may be sixteen tons, perhaps •more. This is one pound of meat for every cwt. of grass, but we must remem­ ber that the grass cf such land differs from the av^rape in the qnantity ot its product. We have not the least idea what the estimates would be in this State, or in the Northwest, of the quau- * tity of grass required for ft hundred pounds of beef or mutton. The results, of course, would be varied by moist dry seasons, and by the quality of jfclie grasses with which the pasture isstocfe f he aptitude of the animal for fat­ tening would also affect the result. ItVis claimed that in Montana that the buffalo grass is considered the richest of all grasses for fattening purposes, it b-ing quite equal for fattening animals to feed­ ing torn in addition to most of the grasses in the West. BARLEY FOR FEEDING.--In this conn- try barley is used mainly for brewing; iu European and Eastern countries it id fed to stock, particularly horses. As compared to oats it is m re iiutriliouf and less heating. The product of an acre of barley is of more value as f'M>d for horses or other auiuiuls than th» pro­ duct of an acre of oats of equal quality. The grain being harder when dry than oats, it can not be consumed so well in a raw state, but if fed ground it should be soaked in water or boiled. When ground and fed in conjunction with cut fodder, there is nothing superior as food for working teams. Barley to" keep the system open and the skin soft. So long as our American farmers grow> bar­ ley with no use for it in view but malting, FO long will it be subject to extreme fluctuations in price, and the business a risky and uncertain one for the grower. But when the value of it for feeding stock is realized the markets will be steadier and the profits of the crop more certain. Many farmers grow ooth barley and oats, the one to sell and the other to feed. It would be wiser, if the soil is good for barley--as most all soils are--to grow a portion at least for feeding purposes instead of oats. Ground barley is an excehent food for fattening hogs. We know from actual experience that horses will perform as much l.ibor when fed on barley as they do when fed on oats. During the Mexican war all the grain that horses and mules had from the time the army left Jalapa for the interior was barley and corn, but mostly barley. Cavalry horses as well as those used for teaming purposes, could not have been in better condition than they were.--Minneapolis Trtbw*#. HOUSEHOLD HELPS. A Day IN tbe Luaadir. A lady at Syracuse, N. Y., sends the following interesting letter to the De­ troit Free Press Household on " Wash­ ing Made Easy Blue Monday, that used to harass the mother, tormeut the husband and drive the children out doors, is now made comparatively easy. Soak the clothes over night in warm water with plenty of good washing soap. The next morning wash them from the water (with a little hot poured in) into another of very hot water. If two can work at this it will be a much shorter method. Rub these out and put into a third tub; pour hot water oh these to scald them. Then wring them into a tub of clear blued water--an indigo bag is better than all the patent bluing--and the clothes will be clean and white. Of course it will not be necessary to have four tubs; two will be enough, and if Jrou have a good wringer it wdl not take ong to do out quite a large washing. There is a great difference in wringers, and each time they are used they should be dried carefully and a drop of oil put on the cogs or wheels. Then if the clothes are taken down at night and sprinkled well, they will iron easily. The best sprinkler is a wisp broom, kept for this purpose only. This sprinkles ef­ fectually and evenly, without a pool of water in one place and none in others. TO MAKE GOOD STARCH. Dissolve two tablespoonfuls of starch in a little cold water; when it is a smooth paste, pour m boiling water s'owly, and stir briskly to keep from lumping. -The exact quantity of water will depend on the quality of starch, a pint to eaoh ounce is a fair average; add a good tea- spoonful of salt, a drop of bluing, and half a teaspoonful of lard. (Mem. For colored goods put a little alum in the starch.) Boil for twenty minutes by the clock. A clean bright pan and spoon should be kept purposely for making starch. Strain if not perfectly smooth when done, and if it has to stand before using, cover the pan to prevent a scum forming, and keep it hot. It should be used as hot as 1 he hand can possibly bear, in order that it may better penetrate the linen ; for the same reas >n the starch must not be made too thick. It must be rubbed in until the liuen is completely saturated, and none is left unabsorbed on the surface. In mild weather starch the clothes from the rinsing water ; in cold or windy weather dry them first, as both wind »nd frost snap^put the stiff­ ness. After the linen is perfectly dry, and a couple of hours before it is to be ironed, mix a tablespoonful of starch in a little cold water. Add a little salt and a piece of borax, the size of a hazel nut, dissolved in boiliug water. Mix the starch thus prepared with enough water to dip the bosoms, cuffs and collars. Fold these parts inside and roll the shirts up tight iu a clean dry cloth. Iron the back, sleeves, cuffs and bands, then put the shirt on a shirt board and smooth out the bosom. Rub it hard with a fine cloth wrung out of hot water. Iron rapidly with a clean hot iron, then raise the plaits and iron again. It will be wise for those who are not experienced to do this fiist ironing with a piecs of thin muslin laid over the surface. In either case, after the whole bosom is done, rub the surface with the damp cloth and iron again, without covering, repeating this operation until the work is satisfactory. Do not move the bosom until tli« ironing is completely finished and the linen perfectly stiff and dry. POLISIIINO FLUID AND IRONS. Dissolve two ounces of powdered gum arabic in a pint of boiling water; when cool stir in half an ounce of oarbonate of magnesia, and after it has settled bottle the clear fluid for use. When the shirts are all ironed, put the first one on the shirt board, and with a fine cloth moistened with the fluid go over the surface of the part to be polished, applying the hot polishing iron as soon as possible afterwards. If any parts become too dry before ironing, moisten them again and repeat the operation. The polishing iron inupt be I used quickly and lightly. A nickle?plated 1 one is best, and care should be taken never to let it become too hot. TO WASH NICE LACE EDGINGS. Cover the outside of a large glass bot­ tle smoothly with soft white cotton, linen or flannel. Wrap the lace around it, basting each edge carefully with very flue thread. Fasten a piece of thin muslin or net over the outride of the lace. Soak the bottle in tepid -vater for an hour or two, then wash in soap suds uutil clean, after which lay it in clean water for twelve hours, changing it once or twice during that time. To finish, take it from the water and dry by wrap­ ping in a towel, then dip the bottle into rice water and roll it in afresh towel. While still damp take the lace carefully from the bottle, and placing it between clean white cloths, iron until completely dry. WASHING KICK LACES. Nice laces may be c$t;efully washed, and with much more satisfaction, if sent to a lace renovator or washer, by makings strong soap suds and filling a shallow platter?full of the soapy water. Then double the lace twice and lay it in the water so that every pnrt is completely covered. Put this out in the sun for a couple of days, changing the water sev­ eral times during the day. Lift it out carefully each time and <fo no| wring or rinse it. When completely clean staroh it on a piece of white cloth in the house, carefully pulling it before it gets quite dry. Smoothing it catefully with the thin blade of a fruit knife will improve its looks, but never iron or starch it, If its a kind of lace that should be a little stiff, put the least bit of gum arabic in the last water, or a little sugar. Even if you only put it in the soapsuds and dry it, it will look very nicely. Gas­ oline washes silk lace very nicely, as it also does ribbons, handkerchiefs and silk stockings. The Unfortunate Pwitloalof a Bride­ groom. They had a terrible time at a wedding ap at Peterluma the other day, and which only goes to show the amallept drawback will sometimes take the stif­ fening out of the swellest occasion. It seems that the ceremony was a very grand affair, indeed. There were eight bridesmaids, aud the church was crowded from pit to dome, as the dramatic critics would say. But, when chey got to the proper place in the ceremony, and the groom began .feeling around for the ring, he discovered that it wasn't on hand. After ihe minister had scowled at the miserable wretch for awhile the latter detected that the ma^ic circlet had slipped through a hole in his pocket and worked down into his boot. He com­ municated the terrible faot in a whisper to the bride, who turned deadly pale and was only kept from fainting by the reflection that they would inevitably cat the strings of her satin corset in ease she d d. " Why don't you produce the ring?" whispered the bride's big brother, hoarsely, and feeling for his pistol, under the impression that the miserable man | -was about to/back out. " I can't. It's in my boot," explained! the groom, under his breath, his very hair meanwhile turning red with morti­ fication. " Try and fish it out, somehow--hurry up!" mumbled the preacher behind his book. " 111 try," gasped the victim, who was very stout; and he put one foot on the chancel rail, pulled .up his trousers leg, and began making spasmodic jabs for the ring with his forefinger. The min­ ister motioned to the organist to squeeze out a tew notes to fill in the time, while a rumor rapidly went through the con­ gregation to the effect that a telegram had just arrived proving that the groom had four wivea living in the Eist al­ ready. * "I--I can't reach it," groaned the half married man, in agony. " It won't come."' "Sit down and take off your boot, you fool!" hissed* the bride's mother, while the bride herself moaned piteous- ly and wrung her hands. There was nothing left; so the suf­ ferer sat down on the floor and began to wrestle with his boot which was natu­ rally new and tight, while a fresh rumor got under way to the effect that the groom was beastly tight and insisted on paring his corns. As the boot oame finally off, its crushed wearer endeavored, unsuccessfully, to hide a trade dollar hole in the heel of his stocking; noticing which the parson, who was a humorous sort of sky-con­ tractor, said, grimly : "You seem to be getting married just in time, my young friend." And the ceremony proceeded with the party of the first part standing on one leg, trying to hide his well-ventilated foot under the tail of his coat, and ap­ propriately muttering "Darn it!" at short intervals.--San Francisco Port. Experience of a Woman In Disposing of Magazine Articles. I called on the editor of a high-clASS periodical. Ho is a great man, a really great man, therefore excessively courte­ ous ; he can atibrd to be; he has left itinerant anxieties behind ; he is in the elevated railway of letters. He looks at me much as a blue-bottle does at a gnat, as who should say: "I can buzz and buzz without stinging ; why can't you?" He is lordly; his editorial chair is leather-lined, his den has two windows, light, _ air, and every brain assistance conceivable; he is ever so little pomp­ ous ; he has no desire so to be, but he is; he devotes five minutes by the clock to me ; he is sure I shall succeed. I have excellent testimonials ; have I any­ thing to offer?" "Yes, I have." I am trembling nerv­ ously and open my budget. "Here is a manuscript, an article on the Byways of Life." A smile steals over his face (it appears a smile of encouragement to. the deluded hack), he becomes impressive, begs that I will leave it for perusal, and bows me out. I go, feeling that the sun is shining, the breeze--oh! how delightful; the world a mine of inexpressible pleasure. I proceed to number two. He is also the purveyor of a high-class magazine, but he is of quite another mold. He is a younger man, his itiner­ ant days are not so far behind; his edi­ torial age, so to speak, is yet young; he has not yet reached the full blown stage of number one. His den is very small, his chair is cane, his territory so con­ fined that when he sits at tbe editorial shrine to write, his throne fills up tli<? entire space between his desk and book­ case. He is not in the least like a blue­ bottle ; he resembles a caged eagle. His eyes are bright and piercing, his liair so tossed that it would seem as if his thoughts came bonnoing through his scalp to play at hide and seek; he is too occupied to be excessively polite. A cigarette between his teeth tells a little tale. He gives a nod of resigned recog­ nition as I enter, turnB his chair on its pivot, and proceeds to read me, proba­ bly as closely as he does his contribu­ tions. He stops my mouth by declaring that there is absolutely no opening on his paper, then reads my testimonials, and with a keen look winch would be hard but for the glance of kindlv humor that accompanies it, tells me that if I like to write upon an almost impossible subject on the chance of approval I may. --New York Mail. A IfffE AND SUM • ffEMEDY FOR _ HMMMiIM) P * & 'i u># * AND ; 1*:* I 4»fU • :i codEl'* AN1> Hesdaebe.i»'. FOR SALE BY ALL DRUtimST^ ' • -V HolmaiVs Pads. THE average weight of brain in various races is said to be as follows : English and American, 45.7 ouuees; French, 44.6 ounces ; German, 44.1 ounces ; Ital­ ian, 44 ounces ; North American Indian, 44.4 ounces ; Hindoo, 42,1 ouuees; Kaf­ fir (African), 45 ounces; Negro, 40.5 ounces ; Bushman, 38 ounces, and Malay and Oceauic race, 39 to 43.7 ounces. This nice computation, may be correct, but it is worth while to remember that the quality of a man's brain is as im­ portant as its quantity. " A little farm well tilled," especially if originally fer­ tile, may be more productive than a big plantation yaturaily sterile and neg­ lected. ~ V nADSKAXK. '•IT Holman's Ague, Liver * 8tomaoKem Pad. For Malaria, Agum and Aomaoh " t r o u b l e s . P R I C E , S 2 . C O H l l j Holman's Special Pad. ta old chronic cases. $3.00. Holman's Spleen Belt. V«r *«4kMi cases o! enlarged Spleen and mykldiofc XirarfT and Stomach trossWes, 00.CO. Holman's Infant's Pad. For of Infants and Children. 0 ( .90. Holman's Abdominal Pad. For Ovarlat* and Bladder troubles. •o.po-, Holman's Renal or Kidney Pa£i For Kidney Complaints, $2.00* 1 Holman's Pectoris! Pad. For a*M»riV ' \ lions of the Chest and Lungs. $3.00. t Holman's Absorptive Medicinal . Body Plaster. Tho best PlasMf ia tb*" *' world. Porous on Rubber basis. 290. Holman's Absorptive Medicinal Foot Plasters. For Cola Fe*t, Hea4> Hc aches and Sluggish Circulation, (per paii} 2SC* • A Absorption Salt for Medicate# Baths. For Colds, Rheumatism and all caasa vhera a medicated Bath is needed, also an tmfc " lenl fool bath, (per Jf lb. package) 2BflU ' ( FOR SALE BY All DRUGGISTS, " . Or sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price, flni * ABSORPTION SALT is not "mailable aad wnlL . sent by Express at Purchaser's expense. " The success of HOLMAN'S PADS has inspirit " 1 Imitators who offer Pad* similar in form_9a4i|} Oder to the true HOLMAN'S, saywc, Tlwy art just the same, etc, Beware of all bOfgUS Pad» only asado Msail a fhc reputation of the genuine. 'Jo See that each Pad bears fha Ptfvftte IteV*? 1 snue Stamp OF THE HOLMAN PAD COM-L PAN V. with above Trade Mark printed in greee. ™ D«. HOLMAN'S advice U free. F»1 Mot free on application,, Address, HOLMAN PAD CO., " [P. O. £a» 2113.] 744 «rMMtwaf« H* W.i CELEBRATED 'a* v Sitters fllaUurta to an VTnseen* "WlipAteei1 Polaoa. ' "5 Spreading disease and death la many localities, for whltd* quinine Is so genuine antidote. Out foe t)ie> effects, <2 which Host- tt«r'« Stomach Bitters is not only a tAoroogS reaiady, hut. a reli bio preventive. To this fact there ti an overwhelming army of testimony, extending over • period of thirty yenm. All d'sordets «f tbe liver, e to sit aeh and bowels are aim conquered by the Bitters. for sate bf all Druggists and Dealers generally. < HOP BITTERS; (A Medicine, not a Drink.) CONTAINS HOPS* BUCHU, MANDBAKK, DANDBLIOM, AN M POTWST AND BWT MSSKU.QVAU- TIBS or ALL OTHKB THEY OURI3 All Diseases of the Stomach. Bowels, Blood. Liver. Kidneys, and Urinary Organs. N«'r- vousuesa. Sleeplessness and especfally Female Complaints. StOOO IN COLD. Will be paid for a ease they will not rote or help, or for anything impure or Injurious . found in tlicm. Ask your drup^ist for Hop Bitters and try them before you sleep. Take «• ether. D t C. Is an absolute andlrrrslstlble eure foi^ Drunkenness, use of opium, tobacco and narcotics. ••••M SSVD roa Ci iter LA*. All abo« »o!d t.y drui-.riit». Hop Bltt*r» Mf^. Co., Rochester, J>". V., k Toronto,Ont. AMB.FTLCAN AND FOKBIGN PATENTS GEORGE E. LEMON, Att'y at Law, WAalllXOTOW, D. c. References given t > actus! clients in nearly even Omnty in tbe U. 8. Correspondence invited. Send sketch or modal for opinion as to p ;t«mtxhilitjr. No eharge for#ervioea unless Buccessitil, EatuUlisued oyft •RIBLE REVISION JJ (JONTBASTED EDITIONS, Containing tbe Old and Wew Versions, in parallel eel. The best and cheapest illustrated edit on of the Jtavieed Testament. Millions ot people are emitin* fet It. Do not be deceived by trie unscrupulous publishers of inferior editions. See thut: he copy you buy contains lOO fine engravings on nt«>-l nnd wood. This is the only lam tope eeatrnrtfi eult-iwn. and Agents are coining money sell.u* it. AUtXT* WA.Vri-.l». Bend "»tioFai- Cyclopedia War.' The great T.ibrnry of ITniTetwal Knowkdn now completed, laree-tyoe edition, nearly 40 mm fetnSSn? evt"y department of human know .-.l^, iW 4..,,rVcen7 !w i 1 . ('bombers hnrjvlopPMiifi, 1(1 per cent, tare®*-Ulan Appleton s, per cei.t. l;i r«er th;in JohnBfin'g nt it. meie fraction of their cost. l ilteen Imye Oemvo Vol n®«r » nsKW. cnnii.leto in cl,.tb binding J ' *1 . •- 9zO; in full library sheep, mm-bled «dg.-. bpei ial terms to ulul.8. $10,000 HOWARD to «l"b agents dor. ..j 1 . O I , I . in* muntil* of July •no Auijuf.t. Send quirk for sp.-cimen luuraa anri tnll